DSpace Collection:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/3182019-05-25T16:10:10Z2019-05-25T16:10:10ZFeather content of porphyrins in Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) fledglings depends on body condition and breeding site qualityGalván, IsmaelDelgado, María del MarCamarero, Pablo R.Mateo, RafaelLourenço, RuiPenteriani, Vincenzohttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/1746562019-01-25T01:58:29Z2019-01-24T11:54:24ZTitle: Feather content of porphyrins in Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) fledglings depends on body condition and breeding site quality
Authors: Galván, Ismael; Delgado, María del Mar; Camarero, Pablo R.; Mateo, Rafael; Lourenço, Rui; Penteriani, Vincenzo
Abstract: Porphyrins are pigments produced in most animal cells during the synthesis of heme, but their importance for external coloration is unclear. Owls (Order Strigiformes) are among the few animals that accumulate porphyrins in the integument, where it could serve as a means of signaling. Here we hypothesized that the porphyrin content of feathers may depend on body condition and breeding site quality in Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) fledglings and, thus, constitute amplifiers of the quality of the area where they are born. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, we found 2 porphyrins (protoporphyrin IX and coproporphyrin III) in the body feathers of 19 eagle owl fledglings from 7 breeding territories. Coproporphyrin III, but not protoporphyrin IX feather concentration, was positively associated with the body mass of fledglings and with the quality of the breeding sites where they were reared with respect to food quality and availability. As coproporphyrin III is produced under oxidative stress, we suggest that good breeding sites may lead to fledglings in good condition. This, in turn, may make fledglings induce a certain level of free radical and coproporphyrin III production to signal to conspecifics their site-mediated capacity to cope with oxidative stress. This is the first time that porphyrin content in the integument has been found to be related to individual quality, opening a new scenario for studying evolution of animal coloration.2019-01-24T11:54:24ZThe potential of speleothems from western europe as recorders of regional climate: a critical assessment of the SISAL databaseLechleitner, Franziska A.Amirnezhad-Mozhdehi, SaharColumbu, AndreaComas-Bru, LaiaLabuhn, IngaPérez-Mejías, CarlosRehfeld, Kirahttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/1735812019-01-29T11:46:07Z2018-12-21T14:53:21ZTitle: The potential of speleothems from western europe as recorders of regional climate: a critical assessment of the SISAL database
Authors: Lechleitner, Franziska A.; Amirnezhad-Mozhdehi, Sahar; Columbu, Andrea; Comas-Bru, Laia; Labuhn, Inga; Pérez-Mejías, Carlos; Rehfeld, Kira
Abstract: Western Europe is the region with the highest density of published speleothem δ18O (δ18Ospel) records worldwide. Here, we review these records in light of the recent publication of the Speleothem Isotopes Synthesis and AnaLysis (SISAL) database. We investigate how representative the spatial and temporal distribution of the available records is for climate in Western Europe and review potential sites and strategies for future studies. We show that spatial trends in precipitation δ18O are mirrored in the speleothems, providing means to better constrain the factors influencing δ18Ospel at a specific location. Coherent regional δ18Ospel trends are found over stadial-interstadial transitions of the last glacial, especially in high altitude Alpine records, where this has been attributed to a strong temperature control of δ18Ospel. During the Holocene, regional trends are less clearly expressed, due to lower signal-to-noise ratios in δ18Ospel, but can potentially be extracted with the use of statistical methods. This first assessment highlights the potential of the European region for speleothem palaeoclimate reconstruction, while underpinning the importance of knowing local factors for a correct interpretation of δ18Ospel.2018-12-21T14:53:21ZSpecies-specific interference exerted by the shrub Cistus clusii Dunal in a semi-arid Mediterranean gypsum plant communityForonda, AnaEhlers, Bodil K.Alados, Concepción L.Pueyo, Yolandahttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/1728732018-12-27T08:40:31Z2018-12-02T04:15:25ZTitle: Species-specific interference exerted by the shrub Cistus clusii Dunal in a semi-arid Mediterranean gypsum plant community
Authors: Foronda, Ana; Ehlers, Bodil K.; Alados, Concepción L.; Pueyo, Yolanda
Abstract: [Background]: The gypsovag shrub Cistus clusii is locally dominant in semi-arid gypsum plant communities of North-Eastern Spain. This species commonly grows in species-poor patches even though it has nurse potential, suggesting interference on neighbouring species. Other Cistus species exert a chemically mediated interference on plant communities, suggesting that it might be a common phenomenon in this genus. This study aimed investigating whether C. clusii exerts chemically mediated interference on neighbouring species in gypsum plant communities. We tested in a greenhouse whether aqueous extracts from C. clusii leaves (L), roots (R) and a mixture of both (RL) affected germination, seedling survival, and growth of nine native species of gypsum communities, including C. clusii itself. We further assessed in the field richness and abundance of plants under the canopy of C. clusii compared to Gypsophila struthium (shrub with a similar architecture having a nurse role) and in open patches. Finally, we specifically assessed in the field the influence of C. clusii on the presence of the species tested in the greenhouse experiment.; [Results]: Aqueous extracts from C. clusii (R and RL) negatively affected either germination or survival in four of nine species. In the field, richness and abundance of plants were lower under the canopy of C. clusii than under G. struthium, but higher than in open patches. Specifically, five of nine species were less frequent than expected under the canopy of C. clusii.; [Conclusions]: Cistus clusii shows species-specific interference with neighbouring species in the community, which may be at least partially attributable to its phytotoxic activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of species-specific interference by C. clusii.2018-12-02T04:15:25ZEffectiveness of drought indices in identifying impacts on major crops across the USAPeña-Gallardo, MarinaVicente Serrano, Sergio M.Domínguez-Castro, FernandoQuiring, StevenSvoboda, MarkBeguería, SantiagoHannaford, Jamiehttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/1727642018-11-29T01:56:52Z2018-11-28T13:36:15ZTitle: Effectiveness of drought indices in identifying impacts on major crops across the USA
Authors: Peña-Gallardo, Marina; Vicente Serrano, Sergio M.; Domínguez-Castro, Fernando; Quiring, Steven; Svoboda, Mark; Beguería, Santiago; Hannaford, Jamie
Abstract: In North America, the occurrence of extreme drought events has increased significantly in number and severity over the last decades. Past droughts have contributed to lower agricultural productivity in major farming and ranching areas across the US. We evaluated the relationship between drought indices and crop yields across the US for the period 1961-2014. In order to assess the correlations with yields from the major cash crops in the country, we calculated several drought indices commonly used to monitor drought conditions, including 4 Palmer-based and 3 multiscalar indices (Standardized Precipitation Index, Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, Standardized Precipitation Drought Index). The 3 multiscalar drought indices were aggregated at 1 to 12 mo timescales. Besides the quantification of the similarities or differences between these drought indices using Pearson correlation coefficients, we identified spatial patterns illustrating this relationship. The results demonstrate that the flexible multiscalar indices can identify drought impacts on different types of crops for a wide range of time periods. The differences in spatial and temporal distribution of the correlations depend on the crop and timescale analyzed, but can also be found within the same type of crop. The moisture conditions during summer and shorter timescales (1 to 3 mo) turn out to be a determining factor for barley, corn, cotton and soybean yields. Therefore, the use of multiscalar drought indices based on both precipitation and the atmospheric evaporative demand (SPEI and SPDI) seems to be a prudent recommendation.
Description: 45 Pags.- 7 Tabls.- 8 Figs. The definitive version is available at: https://www.int-res.com/journals/cr/cr-home/2018-11-28T13:36:15Z